Should Tenants Demand For Compensation When Landlord Is Renovating?

A friend of mine lives in some old apartments which the owner intends to start renovating in a fortnight's time. He'd told them about his plans a month or two back but some of them are yet to find temporary places of residence. Considering the fact that he's inconveniencing his tenants should they demand for compensation before moving out?

 

I thought this was standard? If the tenant isn't able to live in your property because of something you're deciding to do during their tenancy, at the very least they're entitled to their rent back for the duration of the period that it takes to renovate.

 

I'm not really sure what the legalities of this kind of situation are... *but* I'm thinking that they shouldn't have to "demand" anything because they shouldn't be paying rent for the time they're not living there... it should be automatically refunded to them.

How long will they be inconvenienced by having to find somewhere else to live temporarily? I'd think that if a refund isn't an option, the next month's rent they pay should be prorated to make up for the time they weren't living there and had already paid for.

 

I think it's just fair to ask for compensation in this case or maybe just a discount in future rent. It's not easy to move, even if it's just temporary. Although of course, as a tenant, you will also be the one to benefit from the renovation, but still, the inconvenience may not be worth it.

Also, keep in mind that sometimes, landlords would increase rent after renovation, so this is something that you really need to make sure won't happen before you agree with the renovation.

 

I believe the tenants are to be given a notice, regarding the renovation process and also the period of time they have to relocate before the renovation, when it begins, the tenants should not be there, they should have vacated already thus not paying any rent.

 

I think that there is legislation about this, but I am not really sure how it works. Using logic, if you can't live in the place you're paying for, the landlord needs to provide for another place for you to live.

 

Peninha, let me get you correctly, the Landlord in such a scenario is supposed to find a place for the tenants to live in?...that's what you are saying?...my, that is mighty stressful don't you think?...if that is in my area and property and i have to do that...putting certain factors into place, such a move will crumble in front of my eyes!...it won't succeed

 

I think all those things depend on what is the regular procedure in the country you live in, isn't that so? In any case however, if I am renting a place and the landlord wants me to do that, I think it would be fair not to pay rent during renovation, and for the renovation to start after agreed upon period. Two months for sure. Even if you have the money to find another place, finding something temporary also takes time, especially if you have a full time job. My parents just bought a new place, having sold their old one. They had to move out within a month, and had no where to go unless they find something quickly. They did, but practically all they did for weeks was go to work and search for places- and me and my siblings aren't living at home anymore. If you have people you need to take care of as well it may be more complex.

 

I agree with what you say storyteller, the country has a procedure for this and this has to be in contract as well, it's not something that's it's decided in that moment, it has to be predicted.

 

The first thing to do is read the agreement between the landlord and tenant and see what provisions there are in there for something like this. Some of them mention that these things may happen every couple of years and the tenant will just have to deal with that. However, if the place is truly uninhabitable while renovations are taking place then the couple would have a legal land to stand on since it is the landlord's responsibility to make sure that they can by maintaining the place as in their leasing agreement.